Tunisia’s Garment Industry Sets Ambitious Goals for Green Transformation

The global fashion industry is undergoing a green evolution under the shadow of the climate crisis, and one of the most ambitious steps has come from North Africa’s textile hub, Tunisia. The newly launched Tunisia Textile Green Transformation (TTGT) project aims to make the country's textile and garment sector more innovative, smart, and ecological.

Ambitious Targets for 2030

Led by the Tunisian Textile and Clothing Federation (FTTH) in collaboration with the UN ITC’s GTEX, the Dutch CBI, and several ministries, the initiative outlines clear goals:

• Recycle 90% of the wastewater released by the garment industry.

• Reduce companies’ carbon footprint by 30%.

• Transition to 100% renewable electricity.

• Reduce textile solid waste by 50%.

• Certify 100 textile companies complying with ISO environmental and energy management standards.

As FTTH General Coordinator Rim Jelassi noted, ecological responsibility has become an urgent necessity as summers in Tunisia become increasingly severe.

The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

A key driver behind this shift is the EU’s CBAM, which prices carbon in carbon-intensive imports starting in 2026. With 98.1% of Tunisia's electricity generated from natural gas in 2022, adapting to this eco-tax is vital for maintaining EU exports.

Success Stories on the Ground

Leading companies are already making major changes:

• Demco (Moknine): Producing 3 million pairs of jeans and 12 million knitwear pieces annually, Demco replaced imported pumice stones from Turkey with an effective artificial stone combination.

• SITEX (Ksar Hellal): Located just 10km away, SITEX processes Demco’s cutting waste in its recycling facility. Supplying global giants like Inditex and Tommy Hilfiger, SITEX notes a surging demand for recycled denim fabric.

Tunisia's green textile revolution serves as an inspiring model for emerging markets adapting to global sustainability standards and climate realities.